Xanthones from the roots of Cudrania fruticosa Wight

Chemical investigation on the roots of Cudrania fruticosa resulted in the isolation of two new xanthones, 1,6,7-trihydroxy-2-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl)-3-methoxyxanthone (1) and 3,6,7-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (2), together with three known ones, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)xanthone (3), 1,3-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyxanthone (4) and 3,5,6-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (5), respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical techniques.     

Thiophenes from Echinops latifolius

Six thiophenes were isolated and purified from ethanol extract of the roots of Echinops latifolius Tausch. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data. Among them, 5-(3-hydroxmethyl-3-isovaleroyloxyprop-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (6) is a new compound, and 5-(3-hydroxy-4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (5) was isolated from this plant for the first time.     

Coumarins from Coriaria nepalensis

Two new coumarins (1) and (2), along with seven known coumarins 3-9, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Coriaria nepalensis Wall. The two new compounds were established as 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,8-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (1) and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) coumarin (2), on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The known compounds 3, 6-9 were isolated from this plant for the first time.     

New anthraquinones from Gladiolus gandavensis

Two new anthraquinones, methyl 8-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylate (gandavensin A, 1) and methyl 8-hydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylate (gandavensin B, 2), have been isolated from the light petroleum extract of the subterranean corm of Gladiolus gandavensis Van Houtt., along with methyl 8-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylate (3), methyl trans-p-methoxycinnamate (4), 5,7-dimethoxy-2-methylchromone (5), and 5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxychromone (6). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data.     

Two new isoprenyl chalcones from Hedysarum gmelinii

Two new isoprenyl chalcones, 1-[2,4-dihydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)phenyl]-3-(2,2-dimethyl-2H-benzopyran-6-yl)-2-propen-1-one (1) and 1-[4-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-5-yl]-3-[3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-4-hydroxy-phenyl]-2-propen-1-one (2), named hedysarumine A and hedysarumine B, along with a known isoprenyl chalcone paratocarpin E (3) were isolated from the roots of Hedysarum gmelinii for the first time. Their structures were elucidated based on NMR and MS spectral analyses.     

A novel sulphur glycoside from the seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.)

A new sulphur glycoside, named descurainoside (1), and the known compound sinapic acid (2) have been isolated from the seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. The structure of 1 has been identified as (1R,6S,8R,9S,10S)-9,10-dihydroxy-4-[(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene]-8-(hydroxymethyl)-2,7-dioxa-5-thiabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-3-one by means of physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, ESI-MS).     

A New Bicoumarin from Stellera Chamaejasme L

Thirteen compounds were isolated from roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. (Thymelaeaceae). They are β-sitosterol (2), simplexin (3), pimelea factor P2 (4), daucosterol (5), (+)-3-hydroxy-1,5-diphenyl-1-pentanone (6), 4-ethoxy-benzoic acid (7), 2,4,6-Trimethoxy-benzoic acid (8), (+)-afzelechin (9), fumaric acid (10), N,N-dimethyl-L-aspartic acid (11), umbelliferone (12), daphniretin (13) and a novel bicoumarin named bicoumastechamin (1). Among the known compounds, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were first isolated from this plant, and 6 was first isolated from the natural resources. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectral data. In vitro bioassays showed that 4 inhibited cancer cell growth, 13 exhibited immunomodulatory activity, and 6 exhibited both immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activity.     

Chemical constituents of the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata

A novel sesquiterpene-substituted benzoic acid, named dictyvaric acid (1), together with nine known compounds (2-10), have been isolated from the brown alga Dictyopteris divaricata Okam. The structure of 1 was elucidated as 3-[(decahydro-2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-1-naphthalenyl)-methyl]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid by spectroscopic methods, including IR, FABMS, HR-FABMS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques. All compounds were obtained from this species for the first time.     

Studies on the alkaloid constituents of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss) Benth var. bodinaieri (Dode) Huang and their acute toxicity in mice

Six alkaloids (1-6) have been isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss) Benth var. bodinaieri (Dode) Huang, two of which are new compounds, identified as 2-undecyl-4(1H)-quinolone (4) and 1-methyl-2-undecanone-10'-4(1H)-quinolone (5); the known compounds were identified as rutaecarpine (1), evodiamine (2), 1-methyl-2-undecyl-4(1H)-quinoline (3) and 2-undecanone-10'-4(1H)-quinolone (6). Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for their acute toxicity.     

A New Naphthoquinone from Bombax Malabaricum

A new naphthoquinone 1 together with 7-hydroxycadalene (2) and 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (3) were isolated from the heartwood of Bombax malabaricum. The new naphthoquinone was characterized as 7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) based on spectral and chemical studies.     

Carbazole alkaloids as new cell cycle inhibitor and apoptosis inducers from Clausena dunniana Levl

Carbazole alkaloids, 3-methylcarbazole (1), murrayafoline A (2), girinimbine (3), mahanimbine (4) and bicyclomahanimbine (5), were isolated for the first time from Clausena dunniana Levl. by bioassay-guided separation procedure and were identified by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 - 5 showed growth inhibitory activity (1, IC₅₀ 25 μg/ml) on human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells and cell cycle M-phase inhibitory (2, MIC 0.78 μg/ml) and apoptosis inducing (2, MIC 1.56 μg/ml; 3, MIC 25 μg/ml; 4, MIC 20 μg/ml; 5, MIC 30 μg/ml) activities on mouse tsFT210 cells, respectively, and 2 - 5 provided the first examples of carbazole alkaloids as new cell cycle inhibitors and apoptosis inducers.     

New dibenz[b, f]oxepins from Cercis chinensis Bunge

Three new dibenz[b,f]oxepins: 6-methoxy-7-methyl-8-hydroxydibenz[b, f]oxepin (1), 1,8-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-7-methyldibenz[b, f]oxepin (2), and 1-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-7-methyldibenz[b,f]oxepin (3), along with two known dibenz[b,f]oxepins pacharin (4) and bauhiniastatin 4 (5), were isolated from Cercis chinensis Bunge (Leguminosae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence (EI-MS, UV, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR). Compounds 1-5 were isolated from the Cercis genus for the first time.     

New flavonoids and other constituents from Lespedeza cuneata

Two new flavonoids, 6,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-2'-methoxy-7-methylisoflavanone (1) and 6,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-2'-methoxy-6'-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-isoflavone (2), were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of the dried roots of Lespedeza cuneata together with betulinic acid (3), β-sitosterol (4), hexacosanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxy-propyl ester (5), which were isolated from this plant for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.     

A new dicoumarinoid glycoside from Daphne giraldii

A new dicoumarinoid glycoside, named giraldoid A (1), has been isolated from Daphne giraldii Nitsche. The structure of 1 was determined as 7-O-β-glucosyl-8-(7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one-8-)yl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one on the basis of chemical reactions and spectroscopic methods.     

Two new iridoids from Patrinia scabra

From the roots of Patrinia scabra two new iridoids, 3-methylbutyric acid 7-hydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-4-(3-methyl-butyryloxymethyl)-6-oxo-1,6,7,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl ester (1) and 6-hydroxy-7-methylhexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-3-one (2) have been isolated. Their structures were determined by means of NMR spectra and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

A new naphthoquinone from Ceiba pentandra

A new naphthoquinone, 2,7-dihydroxy-8-formyl-5-isopropyl-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (1) together with a known naphthoquinone, 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (2), has been isolated from the heartwood of Ceiba pentandra. The structures of 1 and 2 have been elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments.     

Two new and four known polyphenolics obtained as new cell-cycle inhibitors from Rubus aleaefolius Poir

Two new polyphenolics, rubuphenol (1) and sanguiin H-2 ethyl ester (2), were isolated together with ellagic acid (3), ethyl gallate (4), 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (5) and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose (6) as new cell-cycle inhibitors from Rubus aleaefolius by bioassay-guided separation procedure and the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic method. Compounds 1 - 6 inhibited the cell cycle progression of tsFT210 cells at the G₀/G₁ phase with the MIC values of 14.6 μM (1), 22.1 μM (2), 10.3 μM (3), 7.8 μM (4), 7.9 μM (5) and 6.6 μM (6).     

Anthraquinones from Gladiolus gandavensis

Five new anthraquinones have been obtained from the ethanolic extracts of the subterranean corms of Gladiolus gandavensis Van Houtt. Their structures were elucidated as 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone (gandavensin D, 1), methyl 3,8-dihydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone- 2-carboxylate (gandavensin E, 2), 2,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methoxymethyl-anthraquinone (gandavensin F, 3), 8-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (gandavensin G, 4) and 1,7-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-anthraquinone (gandavensin H, 5) on the basis of spectral data. The known compounds isolated for the first time from this plant have been determined to be methyl 3,6,8-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (6), methyl 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (7), 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (8), 3,6,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (9), 6,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (10), methyl 3,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (11) and methyl 3,7,8-trihydroxy-1-methyl-anthraquinone-2-carboxylate (12).     

Chemical Constituents from the Leaves of Magnolia Denudata

20 compounds were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia denudata including 16 lignans, which belong to 6 structural types. Except for (7R, 8S, 1'S) -δ^8' - 1', 4' - dihydro - 5'- methoxy - 3, 4 -methylenedioxy - 4' - oxo -7.O.2', 8.1' - neolignan (6), magliflonenone (9), 2,5' - diene-2', 8'- epoxy - 5' - methoxy - 8 - methyl - 4' - oxo - 3,4-methylenedioxy - spiro (5,5) - undecane (10), veraguensin (16) and β-sitosterol (20), the other 15 compounds were obtained from this species for the first time. The absolute configurations of 3 compounds (1,4,10) were determined by CD spectroscopy for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1, 2 and 16 were assessed and 2 was shown to have significant inhibition effect on mice hind-paw edema induced by carrageenan.     

New 2-(2-Phenylethyl) Chromones from Bothriochloa Ischaemum

Two new 2-(2-Phenylethyl) chromones were isolated from Bothriochloa ischaemum (Gramineae). They were characterized as 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-chromone(1) and 5-hydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-chromone(2) by means of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D-NMR experiments.